Several weeks later, I had what can be described as a moment of lucidity -- or maybe even an epiphany. Hipster Dork had written about having second thoughts about leaving his job when they offered him more money to stay. After reading his post, I commented:

"Wow. I can't imagine turning down a 25% raise. Then again, I have already sold my soul to the devil for a higher paycheck.

All the CD's and shoes I can now buy don't make up for the fact that most days, I loathe what I'm doing.

Most of you would probably think I'm crazy if you knew how much money I was giving up. And yeah, you'd probably have a point. Still, as I just wrote to Nicole, right now, I am a miserable little square peg that simply does not fit into the fancy round hole.

Evil Spock: I shouldn't be idle for too long. Right now, if everything goes according to plan -- and the pencil-pushers who really don't care actually do things quickly and correctly -- I should be working again on January 22. But that's a pretty big if.

Congrats!! Back in the day I took a leave of absence from my law firm gig so that I could figure out what I wanted to do next. I thought my misery so clouded my thinking that I needed some distance to make a good decision about my real exit strategy. Best decision I ever made, and I landed in a good place, albeit one that welcomed me with a 50% salary reduction. I can surmise what you're giving up, but I think you have to view it in terms of what you're making...no non-firm job was going to come close to matching my salary at the time I left. I really only miss the big bucks when I'm wandering among the purses at Neiman Marcus. Sigh.

RJ: I didn't think the Gators had deep enough talent. At least that's what I told my boss on the way to lunch yesterday at 12:24. I guess I was WAY off. I will never count the Gators out of the championship in a year that ends in 6.

I would complain about the Gators winning, but I actually kind of like Urban Meyer, and at least the Gators beat one of my divsion rivals. Now I really wish Wisconsin had a chance to play Ohio State this year, because the Gators proved they are beatable. The Gators deserve props for winning national championships in basketball and football in the same year, and the scary thing is they could easily win another basketball championship this year.

Although Wisconsin has a definite shot too. Maybe Wisconsin vs. Florida in the basketball championship game?

Scarlet: Thanks. And I've been having trouble with Morocco, since I've been having to type it all the time. I keep wanting to give it a second "r".

Mysterygirl: Oh, I'll still have a BlackBerry, it's the nature of my profession. The difference is that in my (still contingent) new job, I'll be able to go home at a reasonable time, and ignore the BlackBerry (or -- gulp! -- turn it off!) when necessary.

Justin: Thanks to you, Bo, and RJ, I just devoted an entire post to the subject. And, for the record, Florida played its most impressive game of the season last night.